THE SHARKS CONTINUED their flying start to the 2014 Super Rugby season after swatting the Waratahs aside. Jake White’s side beat their Australian guests 32-10 to go six points clear in the standings.
The South African, who masterminded the Brumbies’ win over the British & Irish Lions last summer, watched his side dominate the ‘Tahs in an extremely ill-tempered match.
Francois Steyn was the victim of a gruesome swinging arm tackle by Rob Horne in the first-half before meting out a thumping form of retribution on Kurtley Beale. The Wallabies fullback had to go off for a concussion test after he was slammed into the turf but he was able to re-take the field. This is the Horne ‘tackle’ that should earn him a citing.
White found time, post-match, to get in a dig or two at Waratahs coach, and former Leinster boss, Michael Cheika. White said, “There had been a lot of [pre-match] talk in the media about [going] toe to toe and intensity and aggression, so I suppose I must thank Mike for making my team talk easier; I just put it all on the board.” The 2007 World Cup-winning coach also joked he would have to check the Waratahs’ coaches box to make sure ‘it’s not too damaged’.
Second placed Brumbies lost 32-24 to Melbourne Rebels to lose ground on the league leaders. Having led 10-3 at the break, the Rebels were inspired by fullback Tony Woodward’s 27-point haul and won for only the second time this season.
For those of you out there with strong stomachs/pain thresholds, Gio Alpon of Stormers dislocated his elbow after falling awkwardly in his side’s 22-17 loss to Queensland Reds.
While the Queensland Reds edged out the Stormers and John Kirwan’s Auckland Blues dismissed the Highlanders 30-12, two pulsating games aptly summed up the quality of Super Rugby.
Chiefs, champions in 2012 and 2013, were 12 points behind the Bulls going into the final eight minutes but cracked out broken play rugby of the highest order to clinch a dramatic draw. Breaking from inside their 22, six Chiefs players were involved in setting up Gareth Anscombe — son of Ulster coach Mark — for a try that made the hosts sweat. The Kiwis pressed on for a late score and were rewarded when Aaron Cruden, who broke Irish hearts with a late All Blacks conversion last November, showed great strength to dive over in the corner. Anscombe held his nerve to slot over a touchline conversion in injury time.
Hurricanes got the better of Crusaders, who are struggling this season without rested Richie McCaw and Dan Carter, on Friday thanks to their exciting backline. Crusaders led by a point at the break but superb tries from Julian Savea and Alapati Leiua secured them a 29-26 triumph.
You can see Leiua’s try here, as well as a peach from Savea and the best of the try-scoring rest, here:
Super Rugby results
- Crusaders 26-29 Hurricanes
- Rebels 32-24 Brumbies
- Blues 30-12 Highlanders
- Reds 22-17 Stormers
- Bulls 34-34 Chiefs
- Sharks 32-10 Waratahs
We leave you in South Africa with Anscombe Jr and his Chiefs teammates as they unwind after a thrilling draw with the Bulls. Sun, Kava, swimming pool and something to read [on a buddy's back] — you can’t ask for more than that.
